<h2 id="section---ShouldYouAttendVillanovaUniversity"> Should You Attend Villanova University?</h2> <p>Established in 1842, Villanova University is located northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate, and law students enroll annually. Is Villanova the right school for you? Read the information below to find out. </p> <h4 id="section---Pros"> Pros</h4> <ul><li>Ranked #1 among Best Regional Universities (North) by <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> </li><li>Graduation rate is 50 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>Student-faculty ratio is 11:1, which is lower than the national average </li><li>Accepts AP, dual credits </li><li>Located 18 miles from downtown Philadelphia and 20 miles from Philadelphia International Airport </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons"> Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost is $16,549 higher than the national average for a private, 4-year, not-for-profit university </li><li>Acceptance rate is 21.5 percentage points lower than the national average </li><li>Student debt following graduation is $11,395 higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---VillanovaUniversityAtAGlance"> Villanova University at a Glance</h3> <p>Villanova has been awarded a #1 ranking by <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> as a Best Regional University in the north. If you plan on enrolling in the business school, it's worth noting that the Villanova School of Business ranked #13 in the nation by <i>Bloomberg Businessweek</i> for Best Undergraduate Business Schools. Furthermore, the College of Engineering ranked #10 by <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs. If you're a nursing student, you should know that the National League for Nursing designated the College of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education. </p> <p>In addition to these accolades, Villanova's graduation rate is 90% compared to the national average of 40%. Retention rates in 2011 were 94% for full-time and 100% for part-time students, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The downside to Villanova is the cost, which is $16,549 higher than the national average for a private, 4-year, not-for-profit university. </p> <p>Villanova has a low student-faculty ratio compared to the national average of 16:1. In addition to this low ratio, you will enjoy being taught by professors as opposed to teaching assistants (TAs). The NCES reports that the university uses TAs to teach classes approximately 22% of the time. </p> <h2 id="section---AdmissionsFinancialAidAtVillanovaUniversity"> Admissions &amp; Financial Aid at Villanova University</h2> <p>In order to apply to Villanova you need to submit a common application, as well as a supplemental application, official transcripts, SAT or ACT test scores, and one letter of recommendation from a teacher. Villanova reports that the middle 50% of students scored a 1340-1450 composite SAT and 30-33 composite ACT. Also, the typical applicant received a high school GPA of 3.83-4.21. Villanova is a selective university, and the NCES reports that 44% of applicants are admitted. AP and dual credits you received in high school are transferrable to the university. Furthermore, College Board reports that you must make your enrollment decision by May 1st. </p> <p>For those concerned about the cost of attending Villanova, the university has various merit-based and need-based financial aid options. For the 2011-2012 academic year, Villanova reports that 79% of students eligible for need-based assistance received grants from the school. The average award for these grants was $21,322. Furthermore, you may be eligible for the merit-based Presidential Scholarship. In 2011, 28 Presidential Scholarships were awarded, covering tuition, general fees, room and board, and books for eight consecutive semesters. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> January 7***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> February 7***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Notification of Acceptance (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> April 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> $80**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> 44%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> $54,520**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Financial Aid Package (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $24,340****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> 82%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> $38,055***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 1.6%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---LifeAtVillanovaUniversity"> Life at Villanova University</h2> <p>Student life at Villanova provides you with multiple opportunities to interact with your fellow students. Villanova has 26 undergraduate residence halls that accommodate 30-540 students per hall. If you enjoy extracurricular activities, Villanova has many extracurricular groups. Additionally, the university has 19 honor societies. Furthermore, you may choose to participate in a fraternity, sorority, or multicultural Greek organization. </p> <p>As a member of the Wildcats, you can cheer on 20 varsity sports teams, including the basketball team which plays in the highly competitive Big East Conference. If you would like the opportunity to continue playing sports, it's worth noting that Villanova has 44 intramural and club sports. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Large suburb**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2011)</i> </td><td> 7,111 undergraduates, 3,550 graduate students**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i> </td><td> 49% to 51%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 93%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 15%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of International Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 3%</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2011)</i> </td><td> 94% of full-time and 100% of part-time students**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 70%****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 4*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> Approximately 265*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> The replacement for the Liberty Bell, named <i>Sister Bell,</i> is located on-campus****</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Villanova University, **NCES, College Navigator, ***College Board, ****U.S. News and World Report.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Office of Admissions, Villanova University, Austin Hall, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (610) 519-4500</li></ul>